[Sr. Megan Rice has been transferred from the Irwin County Detention Center. You can write to her at: Megan Rice 88101-020, Metropolitan Detention Center, P.O. Box 329002, Brooklyn, NY 11232.]

March 2, 2014
Ocilla, GA

Dear sisters and brothers, united as we are in efforts to transform weapons of war (alá Y-12, etc.) into projects fostering LIFE in all its fullness, restorative of justice, and healing for our planet and for the children…

Surely, our days since January 14, when we departed from Ocilla at 3:00 a.m. to arrive in the Knoxville office of the U.S. Marshall at 10:30 a.m., have been packed with learning experiences. These merit reflection. They even deserve to be communicated as events calling for our shared response.

Greetings my friends, relatives, supporters, and all those who support the cause of freedom, not only for Native Americans, but for all people.

I know it’s sometimes not easy being involved and staying involved, so for all of you that have done just that, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to the top of my soul. We need more people all over the world who not only care about the freedom of others, but who care about our future generations and what kind of Earth we leave behind.

VERNON, Vermont—With signs encouraging green jobs and green energy, ten women from the Shut It Down Affinity Group held green balloons and waved as children and their parents exited Vernon Elementary School for the day on Wednesday, March 19.

“We wanted to do something fun and positive,” said Nancy First, 84, of Northampton, one of the Shut It Downers. Many parents and children waved enthusiastically. Shut It Downers also held a sign saying “Confronting the Nuclear Lies” with a finger pointing in the direction of the Vermont Yankee power plant less than a mile away.

Some news from the Netherlands, which is gearing up (and shutting down!) to host 53 heads of State and Government next week for the Nuclear Security Summit:

To draw attention to a significant lack of nuclear security in our little country, this week four Dutch activists entered the secured zone of Volkel Airbase and managed to take a picture of one of the SW3 bunkers in which American B61 nuclear bombs are kept. The activists were arrested and remain detained.

On Tuesday, March 18 at 5:50 a.m., 60 Greenpeace activists from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Poland staged an occupation of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant, France’s oldest nuclear power station. They criticized the risk that French nuclear power poses to the whole of Europe, and called on the French government, which has programmed the closure of the Alsatian power station, to bring about a real change in energy policy in France. Some activists first displayed a banner at the side of Reactor 1, while others climbed up the side of the reactor pool of Reactor 1 and onto the reactor dome. Once there, the activists unfurled a banner which was 200 metres square and read, “Stop risking Europe”. They stayed in place holding this banner for four hours. Twenty of the activists were arrested.

Seven people walked up to the gate of the 132nd Air National Guard Base in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, March 17, carrying photos of some Afghan Peace Volunteers and victims of drone strikes. The group attempted to deliver a war crimes indictment.

Julie Brown, Ruthie Cole, Chet Guinn, Elliot Adams, Michelle Naar-Obed, Steve Clemens and Eddie Bloomer were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. The nonviolent action took place on the last day of the Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance retreat.

Reaping the Whirlwind by Steve Clemens

The tears were streaming down my cheeks as I walked towards the shuttered iron gates in front of the Iowa National Guard base in Des Moines. The tears were a combination of reaction to the cold wind in our faces as seven of us walked slowly and deliberately toward the base entrance as well as my emotions remembering the victims at the receiving end of military drones.

Activists from around the world held a Friday afternoon vigil [on March 14] at Vandenberg Air Force Base to oppose military programs and show solidarity with local protesters, two of whom again were arrested for trespassing.

Approximately 30 people attended the hour-long vigil which launched this weekend’s 22nd annual space organizing conference in Santa Barbara. The conference involves the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, made up of 150 peace and religious groups opposed to what they say is the development of a new arms race in space.

But as protesters spoke Friday, Air Force security forces members walked up to Santa Maria resident Dennis Apel, handcuffed him and led him away as other sign-holding protesters chanted “Free Dennis Apel.”